Entries for January 2000

Wetlands International expresses its extreme concern today over the continued and increasing exploration for and production of oil and gas in the Arctic. Activities like these could jeopardise Arctic marine and coastal wetlands, which are critical for nature and people as well as the global climate.

Wetlands International is very saddened to learn of the passing of Jean-Paul Taris who was a legendary wetland champion. Our thoughts are especially with his wife Christine, their two boys and of course with Dr Luc Hoffmann, his great friend.

Agricultural production in vast regions of South East Asia will be lost in the coming decades as a result of flooding of extensive lowland landscapes due to unsustainable development and management of peat soils. About 82% of the Rajang Delta in Sarawak (East Malaysia) will be irreversibly flooded within 100 years and substantial areas are already experiencing drainage problems. This will increasingly impact local communities, the economy and biodiversity and will develop over time into disastrous proportions unless land-use on the region’s peatlands is radically changed. Therefore Wetlands International calls for conservation and sustainable management of peatlands in South East Asia.

Djoudj National Park is a waterbird oasis located in the delta of the Senegal River separating Mauritania and Senegal. But invasive species are threatening to crowd out the birds. We recently witnessed how our small investment in restoration made a big difference for the birds and tourism. The question now is how can we sustain this progress by strengthening the funding model for the park?

The Hague. The Energy Cooperative Anneville from Ulvenhout (the Netherlands) won 10.000 EUR to make their neighbourhood school more sustainable by installing solar panels and educating students on renewable energy. The competition was organised as part of the “Proud of my Purok” initiative to improve the resilience to disasters of neighbourhoods in the Philippines.

As I leave behind the vast and wild beauty of Uruguay’s coasts, I have some mixed feelings about the progress made at the 12th Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Conference of Parties (COP), held in Punta del Este. “What was it for?”, the uninitiated may ask. Actually I’m asking myself the same question, even though I have 25 years of experience engaging with this Convention and the COPs.

1 June 2015 - Wetlands International advocates a focus on a key role for wetlands in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), and for strengthening resolutions on peatlands and on disaster risk reduction; and an increased budget at the 12th global wetland conference (Ramsar COP12) in Punta del Este, Uruguay (1-9 June 2015).

Bonn. At the upcoming round of climate negotiations, Wetlands International, together with IUCN and the Union of Concerned Scientists, will organise a side event to discuss the role of nature-based solutions within Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). The side event will take place on Tuesday the 2nd of June, from 15:00 to 16:30.

We are releasing Wetland Solutions for People and Nature, our Strategic Intent for 2015 – 2025. Around the world, wetlands are under growing pressure. Implementing this strategy will help prevent and reverse the loss of wetlands and make a significant contribution to sustainable development.